Psychometric evaluation of the behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition systems in Mexican adults

Abstract

Gray (1987a) proposed that the behavioral inhibition (BIS) and behavioral activation systems (BAS) be assessed in humans. The objective of the present study was to test the psychometric properties of the BIS/BAS scales and the SPSRQ, which are self-report measures devel-oped from the reinforcement sensitivity theory (Pickering, Corr, y Gray, 1999), and which have not been tested in Latin-American samples. Factor analyses of the BIS/BAS items did not supported the 4-factor structure, but a 2-factor one. On the contrary, factor analyses of the SPSRQ items supported the 2-factor structure. The BIS/BAS scales had less internal consistency, and lower reliability coefficients, compared to the SPSRQ. The results from convergent and concurrent validities showed mixed findings for both measures. Overall, the results support the psychometric properties of the SPSRQ more than those of the BIS/BAS scales in this Mexican sample.